The Audi RS Q e-tron faces its third Dakar Rally. Staff Audi Sport has optimized the pioneering rally prototype, which has an electrical drivetrain, a high-voltage battery and an vitality converter, in meticulous element for the hardest rally of the 12 months. The three driver crews of Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger, and Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz are going through essentially the most tough activity of the 12 months with optimism, but additionally respect.
Audi was the primary producer to develop a T1U mannequin for the Dakar Rally. The goal: the electrically powered prototype is to show {that a} low-emission car can grasp one of many hardest motorsport occasions and be aggressive on the identical time. “The Audi RS Q e-tron has already precipitated fairly a stir in its first two Dakar appearances,” says Rolf Michl, Head of Audi Motorsport. “Audi was as soon as once more a technological pioneer in its excellent motorsport historical past. We’ve got initiated a paradigm shift. The mixture of an electrical drivetrain and a reFuel-powered vitality converter is exclusive and really environment friendly. We all know what we’ve got already achieved. On the identical time, we’re trying ahead to the subsequent Dakar Rally with respect. It represents a significant problem.” As was the case the previous two years, Audi is counting on the Q Motorsport group of skilled group principal Sven Quandt.
Dakar Rally with a complete distance of approx. 7,900 kilometres
The drivers, co-drivers, and administration of Staff Audi Sport agree: A very difficult version of the Dakar Rally lies forward of all contributors. Twelve particular phases throughout 14 days in Saudi Arabia cowl 4,727 kilometres. Together with the entire liaison phases, the route ends in a complete distance of seven,891 kilometres. The groups typically have to finish greater than 400 kilometres a day on the particular phases. “That’s why it’s necessary to not lose your stamina in the course of the rally,” emphasizes Stéphane Peterhansel. “I’ve skilled quite a bit on my bicycle. We’ve got to have the ability to relaxation nicely in the course of the nights, and we additionally take note of our weight-reduction plan.” One of many particular challenges this 12 months is a 48-hour stage. It takes place on January 11 and 12 and kinds a joint stage – the sixth of twelve. The organizers have chosen the Empty Quarter with its seemingly infinite sea of dunes because the venue. Because the bikes and quads are on totally different routes, the main crews within the automobiles and racing vans is not going to have any tracks within the sand on these two days. As well as, the contributors should do with out the common service from the group and are solely allowed to assist one another. That evening, nevertheless, they’re unfold throughout a number of bivouacs. They’re additionally unable to understand and assess the efficiency of their opponents. “
This might be an enormous strategic problem,” says Peterhansel’s co-driver Edouard Boulanger. “However the second week may even be robust, as a result of this 12 months the rocky phases solely come on the finish. Then issues can nonetheless change.”
Detailed growth work on the Audi RS Q e-tron
The event group led by Dr. Leonardo Pascali has improved the RS Q e-tron in lots of areas. “The brand new set-up improves consolation and can be very environment friendly,” emphasizes Carlos Sainz, who has optimized many rally automobiles in his nearly 40 years as knowledgeable driver. Mattias Ekström provides: “For me, it’s all about how we use the automobile completely within the sand. It helps that we will drive over the dunes while not having to vary gears.” Edouard Boulanger notes a shift within the emphasis of particular person subjects: “Originally of the mission, the main target was on the elemental growth of the advanced drivetrain know-how and the automobile. Within the meantime, we’ve got additionally discovered the time to enhance many features of the cockpit. We will higher management the noise ranges and the results thereof, and the motive force and co-driver are additionally higher protected in opposition to the results of onerous impacts and excessive masses. The technicians have labored onerous on this in the course of the previous 12 months and made actual progress. A giant praise for that.” The electrical drivetrain of the RS Q e-tron with a high-voltage battery attracts its energy from an vitality converter. Audi has been counting on residue-based reFuel for its operation for the reason that final Dakar Rally. This protects 60 p.c of carbon dioxide emissions. The rules restrict the output of the electrical drivetrain to 286 kW in January 2024, distributed between the entrance and rear axles. Many different new particulars scale back upkeep occasions for the group and make the prototype safer, extra dependable, and extra comfy.
Staff Audi Sport is a part of a robust discipline of entrants
343 contributors have registered for the forty sixth version of the Dakar Rally. They’ll begin with 72 automobiles within the T1 and T2 lessons, 42 extra fashions within the T3 class, 36 smaller SSV autos, 46 vans, in addition to 137 bikes and 10 quads. “We’re up in opposition to very sturdy and skilled opponents,” Rolf Michl is certain. “As yearly, we anticipate that the relative strengths of the competitors will solely actually develop into obvious in the course of the rally.” Carlos Sainz acknowledges the sturdy competitors: “Undoubtedly Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah and world rally champion Sébastien Loeb within the Prodrive Hunters are amongst them. Toyota additionally has a former winner in Giniel de Villiers and quite a few good youthful drivers in its line-up. And we definitely received’t underestimate our new opponent, Ford, with former winner Nani Roma.” For the third 12 months in a row, Staff Audi Sport is getting into the occasion with its unchanged driver line-up. As a DTM champion, World Rallycross champion, 24-hour race winner, and champion of an electrical touring automobile sequence, Mattias Ekström in all probability brings the best number of expertise and success to the desk. “I’ve realized quite a bit since I first competed as a rookie in 2020,” says Ekström. “Our rivals are skilled and quick. I’ve been coaching and competing as a lot as doable with the intention to be prepared. My co-driver and I’ve continued to extend our pace and our understanding of the game.” His navigator is fellow Swede Emil Bergkvist, who has rapidly tailored to the Dakar Rally. “I’m already trying ahead to the subsequent version, as a result of our studying curve continues to level upwards,” says the co-driver, who solely switched from the motive force’s to the co-driver’s seat since working with Mattias Ekström.
As a 14-time winner, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel is the lone document holder on the Dakar Rally. He depends on the steering of his compatriot Edouard Boulanger, who has already accompanied him to victory. Two-time World Rally champion Carlos Sainz is a huge of his sport. He first drove with Lucas Cruz as his co-driver in 2009, and the 2 Spaniards have collectively received the Dakar Rally 3 times to this point. They’re the longest-standing driver and co-driver mixture at Audi. “The upcoming Dakar might be robust, however we’ve got ready completely for it,” says Lucas Cruz confidently. “Bodily, my program included biking and jogging within the mountains, plus exercising within the health club. Mentally, I put together myself with a sports activities psychologist. This helps my response occasions and with multitasking.”
Coordinated group as a key energy
The muse of such a posh, different and high-stress surroundings because the Dakar Rally is a dependable group. Staff Audi Sport has cooperated with Q Motorsport from Trebur, Germany since day one. Sven Quandt, who received the T1 Marathon Cup in cross-country rallying as a driver in 1998, has lengthy been a profitable group principal. He has already received the Dakar Rally six occasions along with his X-raid group and the World Cup for cross-country rallies eleven occasions. “Expertise is the important thing to success in our sport,” emphasizes Stéphane Peterhansel. “Sven Quandt and his group have proven that they will overcome all challenges. With such a superb group behind us, we sleep extra soundly at evening and go into the phases with extra confidence.” His co-driver Edouard Boulanger provides: “We’ve got a variety of new members who’ve joined Staff Audi Sport. They’ve performed a wonderful job in familiarizing themselves with the subject material over this 12 months and have pushed the mission ahead in a superb course with their contributions. That offers me confidence.” Nonetheless, Mattias Ekström speaks for everybody when he says: “I’ve realized to stay humble on this sport. There are extremely lengthy days and so a lot of them …”
With the mixed expertise of drivers, co-drivers, your complete group, and the additional developed RS Q e-tron, Rolf Michl has one want above all: “We need to expertise the Dakar Rally as easily as doable to point out what we will do.”
